Frozen to the bough I was perched on. I waited for their arrival. Not knowing what I was actually waiting for. I should have ran. I could still run, but my limbs was like ice, Solid and unmoving. I held my breath and let my senses reach out around me again. Not for blood, but for the danger I knew was coming. The wind shifted, blowing from the south and I caught the scent I was looking for.
Three. Three different scents. Three Vampires. Damn it! I should have run when I had the chance. Without moving, I inhaled again, trying to identify the scent. The first to hit me was lovely. Leather, moss, seaweed...earthy and homey and fabulous. The next was soon to follow. Chocolate, caramel and strawberry. So delicious, it would be appealing to all walks of life. The last was nothing short of magnificent. something just off honey, lilac and sunshine. It was beautiful.
"Look Ed, I'm telling ya. There is no-one here. I can't smell anything." a deep, booming male voice said. Clearly irritated.
"I don't care Em. I smelled something. I can HEAR them" said another male voice replied.
"Well, I don't SEE anything, OK? can we please hunt now?" said the third and final voice. Female this time. It sounded like bells.
Then the wind shifted again, blowing from behind me, carrying my own sent into the small clearing next to the spruce i was hiding in. Just my luck. It so wasn't my day today. I should have stayed at home. I shifted my weight, ready to spring. My scent let them know I was here already, at least this way I could be ready to bolt if I had to. One on one, I had an even chance. Three on one? not a hope in hell.
"Oh. There they are! I can smell you now. You're new?" said the female with a slight giggle. The sound made my lips twitch upwards in a strange way. I was six centuries old. I was definitely not new.
"We aren't going to hurt you, you know." offered the second male. "We just weren't expecting company..."
"Edward, I'm bored and thirsty. Can we go? Rose is waiting back at the house. She wants to tinker with the jeep again!" said the first voice. These vampires didn't feel threatening. I shifted again and heard 3 heads whip round and scan the tree I was currently frozen to.
"We aren't going to hurt you stranger. If you come out, I will answer those questions for you though." said Edward. I could hear the laughter in his voice. He was amused. Smug git. Unthinkingly, I twitched. responding to the comment.
"Foolish mistake, rookie move! Rand bloody amateur" I screamed inside my own head. My mental battering was interrupted by another peal of giggles.
"You aren't an amateur, stranger. Just taken off guard." Offered Edward. He was clearly enjoying this exchange, and I have to say he was the only one. How did he do that? I thought that. I didn't say it out loud. I was sure of it. I was too tense to speak. What was happening?
"I can answer those for you too if you like? We just want to talk, from your hunt, you may be more like us than you think." Edward said evenly. It took half a second to process the one-sided conversation. Oh fan-bloody-tastic. A telepath. I had encountered them before. There was one in Italy that especially creeped me out. I so didn't need this as well as being out numbered.
Although...I did need this though. The mind reader. If I could reach out... Find his mind, channel his gift... and then a roar of sound filled my head as the thoughts of the other vampires crashed down into my mind.
She sounds scared. we can't back away though. she could be dangerous
Ed is totally losing it, man. Rose is gonna be pissed if we get back late. This is pointless. I should just go hunt the bears myself!
Focus Alice, find the future. Focus!
It was too much, I gasped and rocked slightly. Not losing my balance, but it still felt unsafe to move.
"How did you do that? I heard what you heard! How?" demanded 'Edward'. The others whipped their heads to stare at him. I watched through the branches and slid down onto the bough below for a better look. I was going to have to come down. I knew that. I would have to at least talk to these vampires if I had a hope of getting out of here. I moved quietly downwards, one branch at a time until I was about 15 feet in the air. The female spoke.
"Its alright, We won't hurt you. We just want to talk to you." she said. her voice worked towards a steady soothing lilt that had an almost immediate effect. From this distance I could see them clearly, unobstructed by the branches and the pine needles. Before I could register their appearance, flashes of unfamiliar images hit me. This was new. another talented vampire was here. But it hurt to watch this one. Images shifted in front of my ; hunting near Alaska, the big muscled vampire in front of me rounding up players for baseball, a human girl with long mahogany hair and chocolate brown eyes. A removal van outside my own home, filled with packing boxes... Oh god. The images hurt my head. I worked with all the concentration i could find, blocking them out. sealing off that gift. It was too much.
"Ed, she doesn't look so good. We should leave her alone man." Said the other male; Emmett.
"Emmett, we startled her. She is near the border. she has to know. Or at least, she has to move. Its not safe!" Alice proclaimed. Genuine panic setting in. It made me edgy.I slid down the last 3 branches and landed with a soft thud. I kept my hunting crouch and stared at the three strangers. As far as vampires go, they were glorious to behold The first stranger to catch my was nothing short of gargantuan. He was HUGE! six and a half foot, maybe taller. Broad, muscular shoulders. arms, chest... he was massive! Dark curly hair, black eyes, purple bruises under them. He was thirsty. Not a big problem for me, but random humans, I felt a sudden surge of pity for the poor, unsuspecting mortals that this vampire might come across.
The second stranger was the girl. Tiny thing. A good foot shorter than I was and built like a twig. Sharp, spiky black hair framed her pixie-like face and her black, bruised eyes. She was beautiful. She was so graceful, even for one of our kind.
The last of the group. The other male. Tall, muscular, but not as heavily muscled as the first. Bronze coloured messy hair sat atop his ridiculously perfect face. As vampires go, he was stunning. Truly. His mouth was pulled up into a sort of crooked half smile that I swear would have stopped the hearts of any female human he inflicted it upon.
"Hello, stranger." The bronze haired vampire greeted me. His body language was welcoming and open. I wasn't used to this. It made me nervous as hell. I watched his eyes roll up and down me. I saw myself reflected in his eyes. The mud covered biker-style boots, the worn and faded denims, the purple vest shirt and leather jacket over it (covered with leaves and twigs from my recent hide-out.) Hunting clothes. I saw my face, alarmed by the tension in it and the effect that the nervousness had on my body. It was like I was shivering. Causing my flame coloured curls to quiver.
"Thought you might have stayed up there!" the bronze haired Vampire continued. "Why don't you introduce yourself?"
I felt myself straightening didn't seem dangerous. They could have killed me already. Well the two males might, the female was down right tiny. I had her no problem.
"My name is Kali. I didn't realize that this area had been claimed. I haven't been here for 40 years. I apologise and will leave immediately." I stated formally, looking for the first sign of escape.
"That might not be necessary, Kali." Said the female, Alice. Her eyes went blank, but she started smiling. The biggest grin spread across her face, highlighting everyone of her pixie-like features. "Edward..."
"Yes, Alice, I know. Maybe we should call and ask." "Guys, I'm thirsty, I'm bored and Rose is gonna be pissed as it is. Can we go now? Bring her along if you want." Emmett was getting impatient. Not good. Our kind shouldn't get annoyed like that. It was dangerous.
"Look guys, I don't want trouble. I'll go. You go hunt. I'm sorry I interrupted you. Have a good night." I slowly started to back away, feeling nothing but sadness at the thought of leaving. I didn't want to go, but I had to.
"Oh no you don't! I SAW us. All of us hunting. That includes you Kali. You need to finish hunting, and so do we. Makes sense for us all to go together, then, we can go and talk to the rest of the family." Alice seemed to so sure. So confident, but the thought just made me happy. I wanted to go. I wanted to hunt with them and figure out why Alice thought I was safe. I couldn't focus on her talent, not yet. I couldn't control it. It hurt.
"Might be a good idea. Only, I don't hunt humans." I said wearily. I knew what this statement usually brought. Laughter, baulking, outrage, fear... normally followed with me being left on my own again, or me having to defend myself against an attack. I had the scars to prove it.
"We aren't going to hurt you, laugh at you or be 'outraged', Kali, We don't hunt humans either. We were hunting elk before we ran into you." Edward said softly. I could tell he was telling the truth about the hurting me thing, but about the hunting humans thing was ridiculous. I was a freak, I rejected my nature because I couldn't stand the screaming of the humans. As I let Edward's comments sink in, I felt something in my head. Not their gifts or mines. It was like a change. Something in my head had shifted and moved. Suddenly, I wanted to protect these friendly vampires (if there was such a thing). I didn't feel alone anymore.
"Well, if we hunt. you can see me and I can see you and the evidence should speak for itself then, right?" I challenged, starting to enjoy myself. The colour of their eyes after the hunt would be the give away. Black with thirst just now, but once they had hunted, they should be more like mines. Gold.
"Edward, I want to hunt, I'm going!" said Emmett. He was desperate to keep moving. He wanted back to Rose, whoever she was.
"Then it appears, we are hunting then?" I mused
"It would appear so..." Said Edward, flashing a crooked smile that honestly, would take your breath away. "Lets go!" Emmett roared, moving at speed towards the forest with the three of us fast on his heels.
I let them take the lead, not willing to have them at my back just yet. They were still unknown to me. I followed their lead, allowing the scents of the forest to run through my head, searching for what I wanted. Elk, deer, wolf... got it! Mountain lion, about 60ft ahead and 30ft up. I took to the trees, swinging like a trapeze artist from branch to branch landing on the same tree as the lioness, only 15ft above her. Slipping down through the tree, I landed on her branch and pouncing before she even registered my presence. My teeth sank into her neck and instantly providing the relief and satisfaction I needed. I grinned as I contemplated my luck. My favourite, absolute favourite quarry, and I found it quicker than usual. Tonight was definitely my night. A good hunt and possibly some new friends. My stomach knotted at the thought of my new found vein of luck. How long could it last?
Dropping the dead lioness at my feet, I turned around to watch the other vampires finish their hunt. Emmett, the big one, was currently playing with another mountain lion. Alice was finishing off a large doe from the deer herd and Edward was burying his kill's carcass. Once everyone was finished, there was a moment, one small moment of tension when we looked into each others eyes again. Pleasantly surprised, I found six very satisfied and very gold eyes starting back at me. Hmmm... vegetarians.
"Well, now that we have that settled..." Alice stated, a small giggle building up. I felt it echoed in her two companions. It was completely contagious. I started laughing uncontrollably. As did the three new friends around me. It was a few minutes before the hilarity dissipated.
"Ok, ok, she ain't killing humans, can we go back now? or are we hunting some more, I didn't catch me a bear..." Emmett asked and mused at the same time. What was it with him and bears?
"He lost a fight with a bear once. Hasn't quite got over it." Edward answered my unspoken question with a smile. "We should probably head back though."
"You coming then Kali?" Alice asked the anticipation on her face almost floored me. I was being accepted. The lonely hole in my chest closed a little.
"I left my car in Forks. I should probably go get it. Its not exactly the most conspicuous vehicle." £200,000 car in the middle of a small town in Washington. No, not exactly discrete. I could replace it if I wanted to, easily. 600 years was plenty of time to amass wealth, I just liked THAT one.
"I'm not surprised." Edward said, still peering in my head. that would get annoying. "One of us will come with you if you like. Help you get to the house?"
"I'll go! Please! please please please?" Alice was practically bouncing up and down. I couldn't get over how accepting she was. "If you feel safe with the stranger vampire?" Her eyes went blank and then flickered back to life again. "Yep, no problem. lead the way! We will be back at the house in 20 minutes. let them know we have a guest coming will you?" She stared at Emmett as he got out his mobile phone. "You will be back there in 5 minutes, why are you calling?" annoyance peppered her tone.
"More of a heads up, isn't it?" Emmett replied while he dialed the number and spoke fast. "Carlisle" pause "Of course nothing is wrong, look, hold on a second will ya? Oh, here, talk to Alice!" shoving the mobile into Alice's hand
"Carlisle, can you make sure everyone is in the dining room in 20 minutes? We need to talk about something." Alice paused this time, shorter than Emmett's. "Look, its easier if you see for yourself. Just make sure everything is ready. Look, I have to go. Be home soon" she closed the phone and handed it back to her companion. "Lets get this show on the road! you guys run, we will drive" she proclaimed, grabbing my hand and pulling my forward towards the town.
After a quick run through the forest, we hit the town. It was dark, just after midnight and I was in a human town, with a very strange and very friendly vampire. not exactly how I saw my day going. We walked slower then, mostly in silence until we reached my car. My gorgeous deep purple Lamborghini Murcielago. This was my pride and joy. Alice let out a low whistle.
"How does it drive?"
"Like you wouldn't believe!" I winked at her and she flashed a grin back.
"Well Kali, best get going, the family are expecting company now. Rose gets impatient."
"I'm gonna need directions here, Alice. Its been 40 years since I was here last you know." I teased. Should have probably mentioned that before I offered her a ride. I started the car, careful to keep the engine revs down. Rule number one, remember? Don't get caught and don't be seen! A town this small, I would get noticed. "hop in!" challenging her.
"They are gonna like you, you know? I've seen it." Alice stated randomly as she pointed down the road, out of the small town "That way."
"Thanks, and you can't know that Alice. They haven't met me yet."
"Of course I can know. They decided to hear you out and I know they will love you so just suck it up. you are gonna have a lot of new friends by morning." She stuck her tiny little tongue out at me and giggled. I eased out onto the motorway after we left the town, following her directions to the letter. Suddenly, I was beyond curious.
"Tell me about them, Alice. Your family." using her words, not mine. Alice giggled then pursed her lips. "Oh where to even begin...?"
She talked at high speed for 10 minutes offering as much detail as a two hour lecture would contain as she talked about the 6 other members of her family.
She started with Carlisle. Their father, their creator, the doctor, the compassionate one, the confidant, essentially, the core of their whole family.
She moved onto Esme next. Their mother, their heart. Alice talked about her ability to love unconditionally, her caring and her love. If Carlisle was the creator of the family, she was the glue that held it together.
Then Jasper. Alice's true other half, her soul mate. The soldier brought to this life during the vampire wars in the south. The one that struggled most with 'vegetarianism' but never stopped trying. The empath. the other gifted member of the family.
Rosalie was next. Her sister. Tenacious to a fault, stunningly beautiful even by vampire standards. She struggled most with being a vampire. I could understand that. She hated what she was but resolved to be the best at it regardless.
Next came Emmett, Rosalie's partner. Her big brother. Massive, of course but essentially a big kid. impressively strong, always up for a challenge and fiercely protective of his family and mate.
She paused after Emmett. Edward was next. Why would she stop though? The curiosity was just about killing me.
"Edward is special." she began in a quiet voice. Edward. The families lost soul, the lonely old man who only recently came out of his shell. The mind reader. His gift made him more sensitive to those around him.
"He has the most exceptional self-control I have ever seen, although, he has put himself into a situation where it is demanded." She was holding something back. Something important. Curiosity burning, I looked at her, trying to figure out what it was she was keeping back. I had 600 years practice at reading faces. That was humans though, Vampires have the ability to produce the most astonishing poker face... and thats what I was getting, poker face.
"Alice..." I pressed.
"Sorry, Its just that Edward is... complicated" she said. The riddles started to drive me insane. So, against my better judgement, I focused on her gift. Properly focused. That it hit me again. It almost felt like pouring bleach in my head. the images singed as they tore through my head. Eight vampires sat around a very expensive looking antique table, a silver Volvo parked next to my car, a very pretty human with brown hair and brown eyes with the most astonishing blush spreading across her face.
"Woaw!" I cried out, shock overriding the need for discretion. "Sorry Alice, I really am but who the hell was that? The human with the brown hair and blushing?"
"Oh, that's Bella. She's part of the family. Edwards mate."
"But she is human..." I was so confused. I didn't like confused.
"I told you things were complicated, didn't I?" she grinned at my totally frozen features. "Turn right here and head up the drive. We're nearly there."
Doing as instructed, I turned right, the drive was winding, shaded on both sides by massive trees. Sharp corners, hairpin turns, bumps and dips... this was not supposed to be used as a driveway. The regular use of cars had pounded the dirt into submission to form a somewhat usable road.
"Please tell me you don't live in a hut at the end of this trail?" I teased. Alice all but folded over laughing. "Of course we don't. Like I would allow that?" The trail opened up slightly, the trees thinning on either side as we approached a meadow. Well, of all the things i expected, I wasn't looking for this. A large meadow, gorgeous under the moonlight and swaying slightly in the light breeze. A river cutting through the meadow in two places, 6 ancient cedar trees sheltering the whole meadow with the shadows they cast touching the back wall of a large white house. I shouldn't have been suprised though, considering the residence I was currently occupying outside of Seattle. The driveway run straight through the meadow, widening towards the front steps of the porch. The house was beautiful. I stared for a second and then shook some sense into myself. Yes, the house is very pretty Kali, but the pretty house in the nice meadow with the tinkling river was also filled with vampires. Pulling up at the front porch, I killed the engine and looked at Alice.
"I'm gonna be safe right? No attacks?"
"You know, I might find that insulting."
"No offence meant... its just that, i can smell six vampires in that house, you make seven and I make eight. We aren't supposed to group like that. it goes against our nature." I protested.
"So does being vegetarian." She said smugly, clearly pleased with her logic. And I couldn't argue with it. "Are you stalling Kali? They wont hurt you. they are gonna love you."
"Easy for you to say. you see the future."
"I see versions of the future. It can always change you know?" She replied
"Yeah, because that's comforting." I said sarcastically. "One wrong move, Kali, and its all over. Would that be about right?" I teased.
"Our family has seven vegetarian vampires who always live within hunting distance of a human town or city. Wrong moves and slip ups are easily forgotten and forgiven here."
"I'll bear that in mind."
"Quit stalling, will you? Now, Do you want to leave this glorious machine here or put it in the garage to save the paint from fading?" Paint from fading? It was about 2am, how long was I staying for?
"Um, I think it should be ok here. The paint will be fine. I can move it later if I have to." I suggested. She jumped in the air excitedly, waving her little arms.
"Alright then, lets do this!"